Collapsible carriage for children



GOLLAPS IBLEC'ARRIAGE FOR CHILDREN Filed Def. 9, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1-ih R May 26, 1931. R. H. BROWN -COLLAP$IBLE CARRIAGE FOR CHILDREN TiledOct. '9, 1926 4 Sheet"sSheet 2-" ay :R; H. BROWN 1,807,235 COLLAPS/IBLEmanners FORCHILDREN 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet}- May 26, 1931.-R. H. BROWN" 1,807,235

COLLAPSIBLE CARRIAQE FOR CHILDREN- FiiedOct. 9. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4furnish a seat with arm rests and a back and foot well, so that thechild can sit up there- Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES REINHARDT H.BROWN, 01 LA. FORTE, INDIANA COLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE EOB- CHILDRENApplication filed October 9, 1926. Serial No. 140,585.

- My invention is concerned'with collapsible carriages for children, ofthe type in which the carriage can assume any one of three positions, i.e., (1) completely extended so as to in; (2) partially extended so thatthe child can lie horizontally therein at full length; and (3)completely collapsed so that it can be conveniently carried by hand, andis designed to produce a carriage of the class described that shall becomparatively simple in its construction, and easily manipulated.

To these ends, it consists of various elements combined and cooperatingin a novel manner, as will be described at length in the body of thespecification, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto fou'r sheets of drawings inwhich the same reference characters are used to designate identicalparts in all the figures, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of acarriage embodying my invention in its completely extended position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same substantially in its completelycollapsed position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion thereof in its partiallyextended position;

Fig. 1 is an inverted plan view of the same in its completely collapsedposition;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views, on an enlarged scale, on the lines5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a central vertical section showing a modification.

As will be readily apparent, this carriage consists of a metallicframework with a flexible body, and the metallic framework will first bedescribed in detail, after which the construction of the flexible bodyapplied thereto will be described.

hat I maycall the main frame 10 is preferably made of strap metal and issubstantially U-shaped in its general outline, with the frame extendingsubstantially horizontally in the erected position of the carriage.Toward its closed end it has pivoted thereto by the rivets 11 the handleframe 12 which is of the same general constructionand material, and issubstantially U-shaped with the closed end slightly widened by theoffsets at 13, so that the handle can fold over the top and bodyportions as well as the framework when it is collapsed, as seen in Fig.2. Pivoted to the forward or open end of the main frame 10 by the rivetsor bolts 14: is the front wheel frame 15, of generally similar andconstruction to the main frame 10 and handle frame 12, and generallyU-shaped in its outline, except for the ofisets 16, best seen in Fig. 1,whichare employed to narrowl the space between the front wheels 17 ascompared with that between the rear wheels 18, so that when the partsare collapsed, as seen in Fig. 4, the front wheels 17 will fold betweenthe rear wheels 18. The front wheels are preferably supported by havingtheir hubs journaled on the ends of the tubular shaft 19 outside of theframe 15 through which it extends and by which it is supported. The rearwheels 18 are journaled on the horizontally extending ends 20 of therear wheel supporting members 21, functioning partly as limbs, andpartly as levers and which are preferably formed of tubular metal,depressed at two points so that the flattened portions thereof can bepivotally connected by rivets -22 to the lower end of the handle frame10' and by rivets 23 toward the closed end of the rear wheel supportingframe 24:, which is also U-shaped in its general outline and constructedof materials like the main frame 10 and the handle frame 12, and has itsopen end journaled to the open ends of the main frame 10 and the frontwheelframe 15 by the common rivets or bolts 14. The lower open end ofthe handle frame 12 and the intermediate portion of the front wheelframe 15 are connected by the links 25, which utilize the common rivets'22 to connect them to the handle frame and the rivets' 26 to connectthem to the front wheel frame. Secured to the inner sides of the mainframe 10 near its center by the rivets 27 and 28 are the sheet metalbrackets 29, and pivoted to the said brackets 29 below' the main frame10 by the rivets 30 are the open ends of the U-shaped locking frame 31,which is likewise constructed of materials similar Too to the otherU-shaped frames. This locking frame 31 has Ushaped recesses 32 thereinlocated in the upper edge toward the center of the sides in position tocooperate with the pins 33 rigidly secured to and projecting inwardlyfrom the handle frame 12 between the rivets 11 and 22, and thus limitthe upward movement of the locking frame 31 due to the pull of the shorthelically coiled contractile springs 34 at the sides, which areconnected at their upper ends to the main frame 10' and at their lowerends to the locking frame 31 to hold it yieldingly in the position shownin Fig. 1 in which it serves to lock the parts in their completelyextended position. WVhen the parts are to be released to collapse thecarriage, the hand or foot is placed on the rear transverse portion ofthe locking frame 31 and the same is rocked about the pivot to releaseits recess32 from the pin 33, after which the handle 17 can'be swungtoward the front to bring the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2.Excessive downward movement of the frame 33 during this unlockingdepression is prevented by having the inwardly turned flanges 38 on thebottoms of the brackets 29. lVhen this forward movement of the handle 12takes place, it will be obvious that the links 25 will draw the frontwheels to the rear while the action of the supports 21 as levers of thefirst class about the rivets 23 as fulcra willswing the rear wheels 18forward and upward so that the entire mechanism will collapse into theposition shown in Fig. 2.

The brackets 29 above the main frame 10 are provided with thesubstantially vertical slots-37 through which extend the short pins 39rigidly secured in and projecting outwardly from the open ends of thegenerally U-shaped back frame 40, which may be made of materials similarto the other U-shaped frames.

The lower end of this frame is provided with the recess 41 therein, asbest seen in Fig.

2, which, when the back frame is fully extended, as shown in Fig. 1,cooperates with the pins or rivets 28 which are extended inwardly forthis purpose, as best seen in Fig.

. 6. When the back. frame 40 is to. be lowered,

as shown in Fig. 3, it is first necessary to lift it sufficiently todisengage the notches 41 in its ends from the pins 28, the slots 37permitting thismovement, after which the back frame can be turned down.Pivoted to the front open end of the main frame 10 by the same rivets 14is a foot well frame42, which.

may likewise be composed of strap metal, and which is U-shaped :in itsgeneral outline, although as will be best seen from Fig. 1, the lowerand forward portion thereof. is curved, as seen at43. The extieme topportions 44 are turned at right angles, and near these portions 44 thefoot well frame 42'is connected 7 by the rivets 45 to the arm rest links46 which as seen in Fig. 3. The front portion thereof is secured, as at50, to the transverse portion of the foot wellframe 42, while portionsof its sides are likewise secured, as at 51, to the inside of the armrest links 46, one of the rivets employed for this purpose being shownat 52 in Fig. 1.: The rear upper end of the flexible body is secured to.the transverse portion of the back rest framefas at 53.. The bottomportion of this flexible body has securedtherein at 54 a plate or sheet,of any desired rigid material to form the bottom of the foot well onwhich the infants feet rest whenit is sitting up in the position of thecarriage shown.

in Fig. 1, while at 55a larger, and preferably padded, board or plate isprovided for a seat. When the parts are extended, as seen in Fig. 3,these stiffened portions of the bottom will not interfere with its beingused as a cradle, as it were. To support the forward end of this seatportion 55 in a horizontal position.

when the parts are adjusted as shown in Fig.

1, I employ a pair of links 56, connected at their upper ends by rivetsto the ends of the horizontal portions-44 of the foot well. frame 42,.while their lower ends are connected to the. flexible body portion atthe edges of'and near the. forward. end of the seat plate. or pad 55,.and I preferably form these links 56 of some flexible material like thebod-y material proper. As the parts are swung from the position shown inFig. 3 to thatshown in Fig; 1, the rear'end of the seat board 55.isnecessarily elevated,.and without the links 56 and the lifting of thesame by bringing the portions 44 of .the foot well frame toward. theirhorizontal positions, and the resultant relative lifting of the forwardendof the seat board 55, said seat board would slant clownwardly towardthe front, which wouldbe highly objectionable. The same generalconstruction is employed to keepthe foot rest board 54 horizontal bysecuring the similar flexible links 36 to the-short horizontal arms Fig.1, it will be understood is controlled.- by

for the bottom piece 54of the foot well, when the device is fullyextended, as seen in Figs. 1 and 7, just beyond the inclined offsets 16of the front wheel frame 15, I form the olfsets 57 at right angles tothe sidesof the wheel frame and rivet thereto the cross piece 58,-whichalone would support the bottom piece 54, but I preferably increase thearea of the support by riveting to the cross piece 58 a pair offorwardly extending arms 59, upon.

which is riveted the sheet-metal supporting plate 60, which materiallyincreases the area of the positive support for the bottom piece 54. ofthe foot well.

In Fig. 7 I illustrate a possible modification in which the wheelsupporting membersQ-l become only links 21 in the lower ends of which ismounted the axlerod 20, which also passes through and is furthersupported by the rear wheel supporting frame 24, so that the operationof this simplified construction is not substantially different from thatheretofore described.

Another feature of my invention resides in the employment upon the rearof the flexible body 49 of a pocket 61, consisting, as best seen in Fig.7, of a piece of flexible material, preferably like that of the body 49,a portion 62 of which preferably extends forward beneath the seat board55v and is secured at its edges to said body 49 so as to support andconfine the seat board 55 in its place. The main portion 63 of thepocket piece is made wider, and has its edges secured to the bodyportion so as to form. a pocket that can be distended therefrom, as seenin Fig. 7 or collapsed against it and fastened thereto to close thepocket by the plurality of snap fasteners 64.- secured to the upper edgethereof.

lVhile I have herein shown and described a flexible body that can assumea trough-like shape to accommodate a child lying down at full length, orthat of a seat for a child with a back rest and a foot well, togetherwith a suitable framework and supporting means for said framework, allof which. can

be collapsed for ready transportation by hand, I do not herein claim thesame generically, but only specifically, as the generic claims to such astructure are reserved for my prior application No. 7 54,256, filedDecember 6, 1924.

vYVhile I have shown and described my invention as embodied in the formwhich I at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, itwill be understood that it is capable of modifications, and that I donotdesire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claimsexcept as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

What I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is r 1. In a device of the class described, the combination witha main frame, of a handle frame fulcrumed thereon, a front wheelsupporting frame pivoted to the main frame, links connecting the lowerends of the handle frame with the intermediate portions of the frontwheel frame, rear wheel supporting members pivoted to the lower ends ofthe handle frame, and a rear-wheel supporting frame pivoted at itsforward end to the forward end of the main frame and near its rear endto the intermediate portions of the rear wheel supporting members.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mainframe, of a handle frame operating in collapsing as a lever of the firstclass fulcrumed thereto toward its rear end, a front wheel supportingframe pivoted at its upper end on the forwardend of the main frame, rearwheel supporting members pivoted at their upper ends to the lower endsof the handle frame and having the wheels journaled on their lowerend-s, members pivotally connected at their forward ends to the forwardend of the main frame, and toward their rear ends pivotally connectedtoand acting as fulcrums for the rear wheel supporting members, andmeans connecting said front wheel supporting frame with the handle frameto collapse it when the handle frame is swung forward.

3. In a device'of the class described, the combination with a mainframe, of a handle frame operating in collapsing as a lever of thefirstclass fulcrumed thereto toward its rear end, a front wheel supportingframe pivoted at its upper end on the forward end of the main frame,rear wheel supporting members pivoted at their upper ends to the lowerends of the handle frame and having the wheels journaled on their lowerends, members pivotally connected at. their forward ends to the forwardend of themain frame, and toward their rear ends pivotally connected toand acting as fulcrums for the rear wheel supporting members, and linksconnecting the front wheel supporting frame With the lower ends of thehandle frame.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mainframe, of a handle frame operating in collapsing as a lever of the firstclass fulcrumed thereto toward its.

' frame.

the pins in the recesses.

porting members, and means connecting said front wheel supporting framewith the handle frame to collapse it when the handle frame is swungforward.

:5. In a device of the'class described, the combination with a mainframe, of a handle frame fulcrumed thereon, a front wheel supportingframe pivoted to the main frame, links connecting the lower ends of thehandle frame with the intermediate portions of the front wheel frame,rear wheel supporting members pivoted to the lower ends of the handleframe, a rear-wheel supporting frame pivoted at its forward end to theforward end of the main frame and near its rear end to the intermediateportions of the rear wheel supporting members, and a locking framepivoted to the central portion of the main frame below it and havinglocking connections with the handle frame below the main 6. In a deviceof the cla'ssdescribed, the combination with a main frame, of a handleframe fulcrumed thereon, a front wheel supporting frame pivoted to themain frame, links connecting the lower ends of the handle frame with theintermediate portions of the front wheel. frame, rear wheel supportingmembers pivoted to the lower ends of the handle frame, a rear-wheelsupporting frame plX'OtGd at its forward end to the forward end of themain frame and near its rear end to the intermediate portions of therear wheel supporting members, a lockingframe pivoted to the centralportion of the main frame below it and having locking connections withthe handle frame below the main frame, said locking connectionsconsisting ofrecesses in the upper edges of the sides of the lockingframe cooperating with pins projecting horizontally from the handleframe, and means for holding the locking frame normally with 7 In adevice of the class described, the

combination with a main frame having its forward end open, of a footwell frame having its upper end open pivoted at its central portion tothe forward open end of the main frame, a back rest frame having itslower end open pivoted by slots and pins near said open lower end to thesidesof the main frame toward their central portion, links connectingthe open upper end of the foot well frame to the central portions of thesides of the back rest frame, and locking connections between the backrest frame and the main frame to hold the former in its erectedposition, said connections consisting of open'ended slotlike recesses inthe bottomof the back rest frame cooperating with pins projectinghorizontally from the main frame 8. In a device of the class described,the combination with a main frame having its forward end open, of agenerally U-shaped foot Well frame having its-upper end open pivoted atits central portion to the forward open end of the main frame, agenerally U-shaped back rest frame having itS'lOWGl end open pivoted atsaid open lower end to the sides of the main frame toward their centralportion, links connecting the open upper end of the foot well frame tothe centions' of the foot-well and back rest frames, and at its sides tothe links, andlinks connecting the upper ends of the foot well" framewith the bottom of the body adjacent the front corners of the seatboard. 1

9. In a device of the class'described', the

combination with a main frame, of a handle frame fulcrumed thereon, rearwheel supporting members pivoted to the handle frame below the mainframe, a rear-wheel supporting frame upon which the rear wheelsupporting members are fulcrumed pivoted on the main frame and adaptedto hold the rear wheel supporting levers from sidewise movement, a frontwheel supporting frame pivoted to the main frame, and links connectingthe front wheel supporting frame and the lower ends of the handle frame.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mainframe, of wheel supporting framework associated therewith, a foot wellframe pivoted to the main frame,

a back supporting frame pivoted to the mainthe body thereof, andconnections between said foot well frame and back rest frame whereby thebody can beheld as a horizontal hammock or as a seat with a back-andfoot well, said connections including links connected to the upper endsof the foot well frame and to the forward corners of the rigid seatportion of the flexible body, and lock-' ing means to hold the back restframe in its erected, position. 7

11. In a device of the classdescribed, the combination with a horizontalmain frame, of a front wheel supporting frame pivoted to the forwardportion thereof, a handle frame operatingin collapsing as a lever of thefirstclass fulcrumed to the rear portion ofthe combination with runninggears, of an ad j ustable body supporting mechanlsm carried thereby, anda flexible body supported thereby and adapted to be shaped as a troughor as a foot well, seat and back rest, depending on how the bodysupporting mechanism is adjusted, said running gears including agenerally U-shaped front wheel supporting frame having its lower portionnarrowed by horizontal offsets connected by a cross piece adapted tosupport the bottom of the foot well when it is so adjusted.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with runninggears, of an adjustable body supporting mechanism carried thereby, and aflexible body supported thereby and adapted to be shaped as a trough oras a foot well, seat and back rest, depending on how the body supportingmechanism is adjusted, said running gears including a generally U-shapedfront wheel supporting frame having its lower portion narrowed byhorizontal offsets connected by a cross piece adapted to support thebottom of the foot well when it is so adjusted, said cross piece havingan extension riveted thereto to widen the same.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mainframe, of a handle frame fulcrumed thereon, a front wheel sup portingframe pivoted to the main frame, links connecting the handle frame withthe front wheel supporting frame, a rear wheel supporting frame pivotedto the main frame, members connecting said rear wheel supporting framewith the handle frame, a locking frame pivoted to the central portion ofthe main frame below it, and locking connections between the lockingframe and the handle frame.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mainframe, of a handle frame fulcrumed thereon, a front wheelsupportingframe pivoted to the main frame, links connecting the handleframe with the front wheel supporting frame, a rear wheel supportingframe pivoted to the main frame, members connecting said rear wheelsupporting frame with the handle frame, a looking frame pivoted to thecentral portion of the main frame below it, and locking connectionsbetween the locking frame and the handle frame, said lockingconnectionsconsisting of recesses in the upper edges of the sides of the lockingframe co-operating with pins projecting horizontally from the handleframe, and means for holding the locking frame normally with the pinsinthe recesses.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mainframe, of a handle frame fulcrumed thereon, a front wheel supportingframe pivoted to the main frame, links connecting the handle frame withthe front wheel supporting frame, a rear wheel supporting frame pivotedto the main frame,

members connecting said rear wheel supporting frame with the handleframe, a locking frame pivoted to the central portion of the mainframebelow it, and locking connections between the locking frame and thehandle frame, said locking connections consisting of recesses in theupper edges of the sides ofthe locking frame co-operating with pinsprojecting horizontally from the handle frame, and means for holding thelocking frame normally with the pins in the recesses,

said means consisting of helically-coiled contractile springs connectingthe sides of the main frame with the sides of the locking frame.

17 In a childs conveyance, the combination with a main frame, of afoot-well frame,

a back-rest frame, a flexible body receptacle connecting said foot-welland back-rest frames and adapted to have its bottom horizontal to form ahammock, or to have its front portion lowered with the foot-well frameand horizontal to form a hammock or to have its front portion loweredwith the foot-well frame and its rear portion raised with the back-restframe, and connections between said back-rest frame and the centralportion of said flexible body-receptacle so that as the back-rest frameis raised said central'portion will also be raised to form a'seat thatis elevated toward the main frame; I

19. Ina childs conveyance, the combination with a main frame, of a,footwell frame fulcrumed toward its center to the main frame, aback-rest frame fulcrumed to the main frame, a flexible bodyreceptacleconnecting said foot-well and backrest frames and adapted tohave its bottom horizontal to form a hammock or to have its frontportion loweredwith the foot-well frame and its rear portion raised withthe back-rest frame, and straps connecting the upper ends of thefootwell frame with the flexible body receptacle where the front part ofthe seat begins, to raise the seat as the foot-rest frame is lowered.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination with a mainframe having its forward end open, of a generally U-shaped foot-wellframe having its upper end open and pivoted at its central portion tothe forward open end of the main frame, a generally U-shaped back-restframe having its lower end open pivoted at said open lower end to thesides of the main frame toward its central por- ,tion, links connectingthe openupper end of the foot-well frame to the central portions of thesides of the back-rest frame, locking connections between the back-restframe and the main frame to hold the former in its erected position, anda generally trough-shaped flexible body connected at itsends to-thetransverse portions of the foot-well and the backrest frames, and at itssides to the links, the elements being so designed and connected thatwhen the back-rest frame is swung downward l5 the foot-well frame isswung upwardly, and the rear part of the flexible body descends and itsfront part ascends to support per se the child lying in a horizontalposition.

21. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a main frame having its forward end open, of agenerally U-shaped foot-well frame having its upper end open and pivotedat its central portion to the forward open end of themain frame, agenerally U-shaped back-rest frame having its lower end open pivoted atsaid open lower end to the sides of the main frame toward its centralportion, links connecting the open upper end of the foot-well frame tothe central portions of the, sides of the back-rest frame, locking 7connections between the back-rest frame and the main frame to hold theformer in its erected position, and a generally troughshaped flexiblebody having foot-well and seat boards secured in the bottom thereof,connected at its ends to the transverse portions of the foot-well andthe back-rest frames, and at its sides to the links, the elements beingso designed and connected that when the back-rest frame isswung downwardthe foot-well frame is swung upwardly, and the rear part of the'flexiblebody descends and its front part per se the child lyingina V ascendstosupport horizontal position. 7 V v In witness whereof, I have hereuntoset my hand this 6th day of October, 1926.

, REINHARDT H. BROWVN,

